Here is a summary of the scheduled items for discussion at the Licensing Hearing of Northumberland Council on 21 August 2025. The hearing was convened to consider an application for a premises licence for a Morrisons Daily store in Berwick-upon-Tweed. The report pack includes the application and objections received from interested parties.

Morrisons Daily, 95 Marygate, Berwick-upon-Tweed

The meeting was scheduled to discuss an application for a premises licence submitted by Mr Kulasingham Chandramohan for a Morrisons Daily store located at 95 Marygate in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The applicant originally requested permission for:

• Supply of alcohol (off the premises) Monday to Sunday, 00:00 - 23:59
• Late Night Refreshment (Indoors) Monday to Sunday, 23:00 - 05:00

Following discussions with Northumbria Police, the applicant amended the application, requesting the following hours for the supply of alcohol:

• Monday to Thursday: 05:00 – 02:00
• Friday to Saturday: 05:00 – 02:30
• Sunday: 05:00 – 00:00

The report pack notes that four objections to the application had been received from interested parties, citing concerns regarding:

• Prevention of public nuisance
• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• Protection of children from harm

The report pack included copies of letters sent to the objectors, informing them of the proposed reduced hours for alcohol sales and asking if they wished to withdraw their objections. It also contained copies of letters from an agent working on behalf of Mr Kulasingham Chandramohan to the objectors, aiming to address their concerns and provide further details about the application.

Licensing Objectives and Considerations

The report pack states that the sub-committee was to consider the application based on whether it undermined the four licensing objectives outlined in the Licensing Act 2003:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

The report pack also drew attention to specific sections of the council's Statement of Licensing Policy and the Section 182 Guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which provide guidance on interpreting the Licensing Act 2003.

Proposed Conditions

The report pack included a document titled Application for a premises licence Morrisons Daily 95 Marygate Berwick TD15 1BA which contained a proposed operating schedule, including the following measures to promote the licensing objectives:

Prevention of Crime and Disorder:

• A CCTV system with image retention for at least 28 days, available to police and authorised officers.
• Secure location for CCTV recording equipment, controlled by the premises licence holder or a responsible individual.
• Continuous CCTV recording during licensable activities and when customers are on the premises.
• Spirits kept behind the counter, not accessible for self-service.
• Written authorisation for all staff selling alcohol, with records kept for inspection.
• Staff training scheme emphasizing prevention of underage sales, with refresher training every 12 months.
• Recording of any incidents of crime and disorder in an incident book available for inspection.
• Strict alcohol refusals policy, including refusal of service to street drinkers, intoxicated individuals, those buying for intoxicated individuals, those without valid ID, and those abusive to staff or customers.
• Display of a notice advising customers of the refusals policy.

Public Safety:

• The report pack stated that no specific risks had been identified, but that the applicant was aware of legislative requirements to ensure the safety of customers and staff.

Prevention of Public Nuisance:

• Deliveries to be arranged at appropriate times to avoid causing a public nuisance.
• Notices displayed asking customers to leave quietly and not loiter outside.
• Regular checks and sweeping of the area immediately outside the shop, with proper disposal of litter.
• A notice displayed asking customers not to drop litter.

Protection of Children from Harm:

• Adoption of the Challenge 25 policy¹.
• Requesting acceptable photographic ID from anyone appearing under 25 attempting to purchase alcohol.
• Maintenance of a refusal register for alcohol sales, available for inspection.
• Display of notices advising customers that it is unlawful for those under 18 to purchase alcohol or for anyone to purchase alcohol on behalf of a person under 18.

Objections from Interested Parties

The report pack included copies of objections from interested parties. These included concerns that:

• Late-night operation increases the risk of anti-social behaviour.
• Overnight opening presents concerns around staffing levels, security, and the availability of emergency services.
• Extended hours may heighten the likelihood of children and young people being exposed to inappropriate behaviour.
• There is no demonstrated public need for a 24-hour operation at this premises.
• There are already several alcohol licensed establishments in the immediate vicinity.
• The need to operate a late night and early morning facility is unnecessary given the existing provision and the lack of adequate servicing for all these premises.
• This gives rise to litter problems from discarded fast food wrappers and aggravates the problem of aggressive seagulls in Marygate and Golden Square.
• Golden Square bus stops are often full of litter particularly on Saturday and Sunday Mornings and frequently soiled with vomit.
• The addition of a 24-hour alcohol outlet is completely unnecessary and damaging.
• There are other shops that sell alcohol for a more than adequate number of hours each day.
• There are also 2 nightclubs on Golden Square where people can buy and consume alcohol.
• Even just with these outlets, there is plenty of noise and mess around the town centre as people leave to go home.
• The objector is already woken at times by shouting, arguments and screaming.
• If people have more time to drink and more alcohol to consume. the problems will go on longer into the night, and become even more disturbing for residents.
• If this shop is open, offering a place to buy alcohol (and drink alcohol inside) after the bars and pubs have closed, it will encourage more alcohol consumption resulting in more noise and anti-social behaviour.
• The objector's elderly mum lives in supported housing close to the proposed shop and she is distressed to hear that there may be opportunity for people to buy alcohol 24 hours a day.
• She reports that noise, litter and people trying to remove stones from the walls etc is already an issue.
• She feels scared that the problem could become worse.
• It's certain that increased alcohol consumption will lead to more noise, potentially more violence and people feeling unsafe in the town and also in their homes.
• There are many residents living close to the proposed outlet, whose lives will be affected and may well feel unsafe to leave their homes, be unable to sleep or be woken up.
• It will give a negative impression to holidaymakers staying in the area.
• The addition of outlet selling alcohol 24 hours a day/7 days a week will have a detrimental affect on the health of the people drinking.
• This outlet would provide an opportunity, which they would not normally have access to in the town centre.
• Reports and statistics show that excessive drinking is damaging to health, relationships, family life and children's wellbeing.
• The opening of this outlet would be irresponsible and put extra pressure on already stretched emergency services.

Letters from Agent

The report pack also contained copies of letters from an agent working on behalf of Mr Kulasingham Chandramohan to the objectors, aiming to address their concerns and provide further details about the application.

The letters stated that:

• The premises, currently empty, will be completely refurbished with a significant investment and become a new general convenience store which will sell an extensive range of goods such as groceries, snacks, sweets, dairy goods, soft drinks, household goods, etc.
• Mr Kulasingham Chandramohan is an experienced operator and a personal licence holder.
• He would like to include some alcohol sales to allow the business to offer the complete all-round convenience service.
• The focus of the shop will be as a general convenience store with the proposed alcohol sales just being a part of the overall business.
• This isn't a shop that would just sell alcohol.
• The application proposes a detailed and comprehensive set of licence conditions to promote the licensing objectives.
• None of the responsible authorities have objected to this application - they are satisfied that the application will not undermine the licensing objectives.
• The Police are satisfied that the grant of this licence would not impact on local crime and disorder
• Mr Kulasingham Chandramohan will do everything that he can to prevent any problems for the local community.
• The CCTV images will be made available to the Police upon request.
• Staff will do regular litter checks outside the shop.
• The shop would sell alcohol responsibly and will use the Challenge 25 policy to ensure that children under 18 are not able to purchase alcohol.
• Licensed premises are extremely well-regulated - they must promote the licensing objectives and comply with their licence conditions.
• The Authorities can take action against any licensed premises that cause problems.
• If there was evidence of any problems at this shop then action can be taken.
• This application is only about whether the shop can provide licensable activities (sell alcohol and provide late night refreshment).
• It isn't about whether the shop can open as a convenience store, or if a new shop/licence is needed in the area.
• 'Need' isn't something that can be considered in respect of a licence application.
• The agent asked the objectors to consider the letter and give the opportunity to demonstrate that this shop - with a licence - will promote the licensing objectives and not cause any issues.
• In response to concerns about litter, the agent noted that the application proposes steps to deal with any litter by proposing the following steps: 'The area immediately outside the shop shall be regularly checked and swept, and any litter will be properly disposed of, and; A notice will be on display asking customers not to drop litter on the floor'.
• The agent acknowledged one objector's concerns about aggressive seagulls, but noted that unfortunately there's not a lot that we can do about that!